Athletes from the Past - Jeff Dittman

May 10, 2008

Introduction: Former Northern State football player Jeff Dittman has been the highly successful head coach of the Dakota State University women's basketball team. Since 2000 under Dittman, the Lady Trojans have won five conference championships and qualified for the NAIA national tournament six times. DSU reached the Elite Eight round twice and the Sweet Sixteen round twice at the national tournament. Dittman was an all-around standout athlete from Faith as well. This past season, Dakota State had six seniors, and amazingly, four of them scored more than 1,000 points in their career: Laura Tewes, 1,245 points; Angela Carr, 1,156; Jessica VanLoy, 1,143; and Maria Gengler, 1,110. Another senior, Jill Hansen, scored 800 and would have reached 1,000 if not for injuries. The other senior, transfer Nicole Geraets, scored 499 in only two seasons and would have had a chance to score 1,000 had she been at DSU all four years. Personal: Wife, Dawn (Dakota State University faculty member working on her doctoral degree). Daughter, Taylor (7 months old). Sister, Judy (Dean of Education at Dakota State University and former women's basketball coach). Age: 50. Residence: Madison. High school: 1975 graduate of Faith. High school sports: Football, basketball and track. Best high school athletic memory: “In basketball, it was winning the Little Moreau Conference tournament both our junior and senior years. In football, we finished second our senior year. In track, I remember running the two-mile at the state meet in a light rain my sophomore year at about 8 in the morning and finishing with a personal best time. I didn't place but for some reason, that race sticks out in my memory.” Colleges: 1980 graduate Northern State with bachelor's degree in education. Received master's degree in kinesiology from Sam Houston State University in 1990. College sport: Football. Best college athletic memory: “It was my freshman year when I didn't play. I was a member of an outstanding defensive team. The linebackers I played with were Tim Tracy, Mark Shannon and Bronco Lemcke. They taught me what it took to be a college athlete.” What makes me laugh: “My college football coach, Jim Kretchman (of Aberdeen), always wonders when I am going to coach football. Whenever I see him, the first thing he asks is, 'Are you still coaching that roundball?'” Athletic accomplishments: “Most of my accomplishments have been in coaching rather than as an athlete. I was a little above average as a college athlete, but I played with and for some great people who taught me how sports should be played. Thanks to them, I have been able to pass this information on to a number of athletes over the past 30 years and be a part of their success.” Job history: Has worked and coached at Dakota State University for the past 18 years. Along with being the head women's basketball coach, he also is the assistant athletic director. When he moved to Madison, he was the assistant women's basketball under his sister, Judy Dittman, another very successful collegiate coach. Since taking over as head coach in 1993, Dittman has won 246 games at DSU. His sister, Judy, won 176 games. A Dittman has been head coach of the DSU women's team all but three seasons since 1978. Has held a variety of positions at DSU, including instructor in the College of Education, residence hall director and coordinator, director of intramurals, fund-raiser for DSU Foundation and he developed the alcohol and drug education programs at DSU. Dittman taught and coached in North Dakota high schools at Wolford and Edmore for four years after graduation. He got a coaching position at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, where he worked for three years. “We received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in our second year. We beat Notre Dame in the first round and lost to North Carolina State in double overtime in the second round. In the third year, we reached the Final Four of the NIT Tournament.” He then took an assistant position at Sam Houston State where he became the interim head coach midway into his second year at SHSU. The team had started 2-8, but finished the season 8-1 under Dittman. Importance of athletics in your life: “Athletics has always been the part of each day I looked forward to. I enjoyed being an athlete and I enjoy working with athletes. It has always been a huge part of my life decisions. Athletics have given me invaluable experiences and introduced me to some tremendous people. I owe almost everything I am and I have attained to athletics.” People who influenced you: “My sister Judy was a very successful coach at DSU (10 conference championships) who has taught me a lot about working with female athletes. My wife Dawn was my assistant coach for five years and is a great help with evaluating talent and working with our team. “At Northern State, coach Jim Kretchman taught me to be honest and fair when dealing with people. He is one of the people I respect most in life. Coach Bob Wachs gave me my foundation for coaching basketball. A lot of my basketball fundamentals came from him. “My new daughter Taylor has taught me to leave work at the office. There are other things more important than a basketball game.” This feature, which runs from May through July, is compiled by the American News sports staff. If you have suggestions for this feature, please contact John at 1-800-925-4100, ext. 323 or email jpapendick@aberdeennews.com.